1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR Electrical System Problems

LETTER ON BEHALF OF CONCERN ABOUT THE 1996 RECALL ON LINCOLN TOWN CARS, HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW IS HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH ON HIS 1989 LINCOLN TOWN CAR; SEND INCOMING LTR WITH REPLY TO ATTN: ALLISON JACKSON/FOLEY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER LEARNED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMERS BROTHER-IN-LAW. *JB

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION, THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND. A FEW SECONDS PASSED AND THE CONSUMER SAW THICK BLACK SMOKE AND A FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THE WIRING HARNESS. *JB *NLM

Mileage: 76,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT IT IS HARD TO START UP VEHICLE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE STARTER SOLENOID SELF ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED THE STARTER GEAR INTO THE FLYWHEEL IMMEDIATELY DISABLING THE CAR, THIS HAD CAUSED THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK AND RUINED THE STARTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD SWITCH, THE PARTS FELL OUT INTO PIECES, NOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS WHEN IT HAD QUIT A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL 96V071 AND FEELS THIS RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, THE STARTER SOLENOID SELF ACTIVATED AND SLAMMED THE STARTER GEAR INTO THE FLYWHEEL IMMEDIATELY DISABLING THE CAR, THIS HAD CAUSED THE FLYWHEEL TO BREAK AND RUINED THE STARTER, CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE IGNITION AND WHEN TAKING OUT THE OLD SWITCH, THE PARTS FELL OUT INTO PIECES, NOW THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKS WHEN IT HAD QUIT A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR, CONSUMER IS NOW AWARE OF RECALL 96V071 AND FEELS THIS RECALL WAS THE CAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PURCHASED CREAM PUFF TOWNCAR IN 1996. MID 1997, VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING AFTER THE ENGINE REACHED OPERATING TEMPERATURE. INDEPENDANT MECHANIC-NO HELP. FORD DEALER, SPENT ALMOST $1,000.00 TO REPLACE SEVERAL ITEMS. EACH TIME, I TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE IGNITION MODULE/COIL PICKUP. FORD DEALER SAID THAT WOULDN'T BE THE PROBLEM. ENROUTE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR EITHER THE 3D OR 4TH TIME AND TOTALLED THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP IT FROM STALLING. MY FAULT BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE CAR AND GOING TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE. MY FATHER HAS A 1985 CONTINENTAL WITH ONLY 30K MILES. SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION MODULE WHICH HE JUST REPLACED. JUST HEARD THAT FORD KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THE WHOLE TIME. OF COURSE I CAN'T PROVE NOW THE MODULE WAS BAD SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED GOING BACK TO THE DEALER. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY 2 CENTS.*AK

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK ENGINE CUTS OFF AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE MANUFACTURERS STATES IT IS BEING EVALUATED. *YH

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE NEAR STEERING WHEEL, UNDER THE DASH DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK *ML

ALERNATOR IS NOT CHARGING THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE PLUG ON THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THERE IS NOT INDICATION THAT THE ALTERNATOR IS NOT WORKING UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES OR THE ALTERNATOR CATCHES FIRE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN INSIDE GARAGE & IGNITION SWITCH TURNED OFF. PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS DUE TO FIRE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL # 95S-28 / NHTSA # 96V-071000 PERTAINING TO AN INGITION SWITCH WHICH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER/MFR WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

STARTED TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING WHILE DRIVING 30MPH. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. PULLED INTO SHOPPING AREA & GOT OUT. SOON FLAMES SHOT OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES. WAS INFORMED IT WAS ELECTRICAL WIRING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *AK

ELECTRICAL: IGNITION SWITCH RECALL#96V071000. HAVING SAME PROBLEM, BUT THIS CAR IS NOT IN THE RECALL. *AK

WHILE PARKED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK CONSUMER LEARNED ABOUT RECALL 96V071, HOWEVER IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR RECALL, VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED BY FORD AND IT HAD ALREADY BEEN TOWED. *SLC

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. WHEN THE COMSUMER GOT CLOSER TO IT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD; THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP, AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE FIRE STARTED AT THE ALTERNATOR OR THE WIRES OF THE ALTERNATOR. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK *SLC

THE IGNITION SWITCH TRIED TO START ITSELF WHILE ALREADY ON. OWNER HAD TO UNHOOK BATTERY CABLE, THAT WAS SMOKING AND SPARKLING, IN ORDER TO STOP.

RECALL REPAIR ON IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING SMOKE AND SPARKS.

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

VEHICLE STALLED 7 TIMES DUE TO WIRING HARNESS BURNING OUT, ONCE CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

ALTERNATOR FIRE.

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.

RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH NOT PERFORMED DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP.

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN.

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.

THE DEALERSHIP WILL HONOR THE RECALL LETTER.

AFTER AUTO WAS DRIVEN APPROX 5 MILES , AUTO LOST POWER AND CONSUMER PULLED OFF ROAD, THEN REALIZED AUTO WAS ON FIRE. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH CUTS OFF AND CAR STALLS. THE STEERING LEAKS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

UPON WAITING TO RECEIVE LETTER FROM MFG., VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED FOR 3 TO 4 MINUTES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SAW SMOKE COMING IGNITION SWITCH, STEERING COLUMN COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SAW SMOKE COMING IGNITION SWITCH, STEERING COLUMN COMPARTMENT FIRE. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE IGNITION, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, DEALER SAID A LITTLE LONGER DRIVEN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE, REPLACE SWITCH. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE WHILE OFF . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

THE CAR WAS PARK IN THE DRIVE WAY WHEN IT WAS ON FIRE FOR NO REASON. THE FIRE CAME FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. *DSH

FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN, POSSIBLE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT IN IGNITION AREA. TT

IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE AND IGNITED THE VEHICLE. TT

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. 1987 LINCOLN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE SAME PLACE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

WHEN STOPPING SHORT THE VEHICLE TENDS TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

HAD ELECTRICAL FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. TT

STEERING COLUMN FIRE. *SKD